P.A. Mission in Washington Officially Shuts Down

The Palestinian Representative Office at the United States in Washington D.C. has officially shut down, Wednesday, after the deadline by the Trump Administration for closing it went into effect at 4:30 PM.

Dozens of Palestinians and peace activists stood in front of the Palestinian Missionâ€™s office in protest of the U.S. decision, and several speakers condemned the escalating hostilities by President Donald Trump and his Administration against the basic and historic human rights of the Palestinian people, and its support to Israelâ€™s illegal occupation of Palestine, and itâ€™s denial of internationally-guaranteed Palestinian Rights.

In a previous statement, Dr. Riyad al-Maliki, the Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister, said the sign that indicates that the building in the Palestinian Diplomatic Mission in the US will be removed, but the Palestinian flag will remain because the building is a private property.

â€śThe owners of the building can keep any flag up, as long as they want to, unless the U.S. government makes it its mission to remove the flag,â€ť he said, â€śOur team at the Palestinian Mission has been frequently asked to remove the flag, but we kept it because it is a private building.â€ť

He concluded by wondering whether â€śthe next battle waged by the United States against the basic Palestinian rights will now be about the Palestinian flag!â€ť